Ironing table



Jan.- 1 2, 1943. l.. c. wA'rLlN'G 2,308,035

IRONING TABLE Filed Feb. '7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet'l Jan. 12, 1943.A L.. c. wA'rLlNG 4 2,308,035

IRONING TABLE Filed Feb. '7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lannion C. Walz'ry Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing tables; and has special reference to portable ironing tables having hinged or foldable legs which may be moved to positions substantially flat against the table top for purposes of convenience.

An object of the invention is to provide an ironing table with a pair of rear legs having hinged connection with one end portion of the table top, front leg supporting structure having hinged connection with the table top in advance of the rear legs, top braces connected with the rear legs and with rear leg control braces by novel strengthening devices, flexible and resilient tension rods having their rear ends pivotal- 1y connected with the rear legs between the connections of said rear legs with the table top and their connection with said top braces and having their forward ends connected with lsaid front leg structure in a manner to hold said parts in cooperative relationship and apply pressure to the top braces when the table is erected, and means positively cooperating with said top braces to prevent accidental collapse of the table.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of my improved ironing table in its folded or collapsed adjustment.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the leg and brace structure in an intermediate position through which said structure is moved either to erect or collapse the table.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table set up for use, and also showing in broken lines the leg and brace structure in intermediate positions.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the top brace structure latched or secured in eiective supporting position.

Fig. 5 is a front end elevation of the table opened for use.

Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation thereof.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear elevation showing the novel connecting devices pivotally connecting the rear legs and rear leg braces with the table top and with each other.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on the line .ll-3 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8 showing the devices for connecting the top braces with the rear legs.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view showing an embodiment of the invention containing a single leg in the front leg supporting structure instead of two legs, as in the preceding views of the drawings.

The table top I is of conventional form and may be made of any desired material.

According to the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, the attaching bracket for the rear legs 2 and rear leg braces 3 is preferably formed of sheet metal shaped to provide a transverse portion including at margins 4, a longitudinal bead 5, and flat end portions 6 beyond the bead 5; downwardly diverging ears I integral with the ends of the flat portions 6 and having angularly disposed approximately vertical end portions 8; and downwardly and inwardly eX- tended flanges 9 along the edges of the flat portions 6 and ears 'I (Figs. 7, 8 and 9). This bracket is extended transverselyv along the underside of the rear end of the table top I and attached thereto by fasteners I0 having their upper beaded ends countersunk or contained within recesses in the upper side of the table top. The formation of this sheet metal bracket with the longitudinal bead 5 and anges 9 permits the use of relatively light or thin gage material and at the same time obtains the maximum strength required.

The upper ends oi the rear legs 2 are seated atwise against the outer surfaces of the ears and are connected thereto by pivots I`I which are angularly disposed with respect to the table top I and are normal or perpendicular to the planes of the ears 'I and the legs 2 (Figs. 7 and 9). Thus, when the legs 2 are extended to support the table, they diverge outwardly so that their lower portions are substantially laterally beyond the planes of the side edges of the table top while their upper ends are substantially inwardly from said side edges of the table top.

The upper ends of the rear leg braces 3 have angular portions I2 matching the angularly disposed end portions 8 of the ears 1 and connected therewith inwardly beyond the flanges 9 by pivots I3. To obtain maximum freedom of movement of the parts when the legs are extended or collapsed, the pivots I3 are arranged so that the pivot I3 at one side is approximately in axial alinement with the pivot II at the opposite side of the table top. Spacers I 3 are supported on the pivots I3 between the two side anges 9 of each ear and between the ear and the adjacent end portion I2 of the brace 3. This permits free4 swinging movement of the braces about the pivots I3 and provides the desired frictional and resilient resistance. The rear leg braces 3 are crossed and have their lower ends connected with the respective legs 2 by pivots I4 which are approximately parallel with the pivots II when the legs are extended. The action and effect of the braces 3 is to spread the legs 2 apart in downwardly diverging relationship when said legs are extended (Figs. 5 and 6), and to cause converging movement of the free ends of said legs so that they are contained within the dimensions of the table top when said legs are collapsed or folded against the table top '(Fig. 1). The lower ends of the braces 3 have angular portions I5, duplicates of the angular portions I2,

so that said braces are duplicates of each otherl and each brace is reversible end for end. This is to say that the angular portions I 2 may beattached to the pivots I4 and the angular portions is attached to a bracket preferably'made .of sheet f metal and comprising an elongated central portion I8 anda pair of side flanges I. The ends of the braces I'I seat against the central portions I8 and between the flanges I9 Yof said brackets,

and are attached thereto by fasteners '29.

. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1

to 10, inclusive, the extended portions I8 of said brackets are mounted on the pivots I4. The front ends of the top braces II are spaced apart and attached together'by a rod 2l having a handle 5 22 rotative thereon between said braces. .A resilient bail comprising a pivoting portion 23 and diverging arms 24 having their lendspivoted to the rod 2I connects the ends of the braces IlI with the table top. The arms 24 have vpivotal connection with the rod 2! at opposite ends of the handle 22, and may impart outward pressure against the braces I-'I, leaving said handle`22freely rotative. The pivoting ,portion -23 isengaged by a bearing 25 'attached to the `table top I by removable and replaceable fasteners v26. The arms 24 are spaced apart far enough to .permit the hand of the user grasping the hand1e.22 to pass freely between them. A button comprising at1"iiat.portion'2'l and offset portions-28 is mounted on a pivot 2S and is rotative to a position in which the arms E5 of the pivoted bail are engaged by said offset portions V23 and held thereby against the underside of the table top. The button ,21 may be turned about the pivot 25J to a position in which it is disengaged from the bail, leaving the bail free to be swung downwardly, as

- indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3, to fold or collapse the table legs.

The table shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises two legs or members 3i] forming the front leg supporting structure for the table. The upper ends of the vlegs 3S are spaced apart and extend between side flanges 3| of brackets 32 attached to the underside of the table top by fasteners 33 arranged like the fasteners I0. Pivots 34 connect the legs 3Q with the brackets, leaving said legs free for swinging movement from extended position (Fig. 3) to a position adjacent tothe underside of wthe -table top. The legs 35 extend between the top braces I1, and consequently extend-across the handle 22 when the table is folded. The flanges 3l Yconstitute guides and braces for the legsand contribute to the rigidity and firmness of the table when in use.

A bail is utilized to connect the rear legs 2 with the front legs 3B and to apply proper pressure and stresses to said legs and to the top braces I'I in cooperation with the bail 24 to prevent accidental collapse of the table and hold the table positively in open position. The bail is resilient and comprises a pair of arms having their rear ends pivotally connected with links 36 attached by Vpivots 31 to the legs 2 approximately midway between the pivots E I and I4; and a portion 38 integrally connecting the front ends of said arms 35 and extending across the forward :edges of the legs 3u and held in pivotal connection therewith by a retainer 39 (Fig. 3). The lower or forward ends of the legs 3@ are rigidly attached together by a fastener iii which does not interfere with the pivotal movement of said legs about the pivots 34 nor with respect to the bail 35.

To open the table from the folded position shown in Fig. 1, the free ends of the legs 3B are swung downwardly Vfar enough to permit the hand of the user to-engage the handle 22. After the handle 22 is engaged, the parts may be moved thereby to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, passing through the positions shown in broken lines. When the pivot 2i passes dead center position or beyond alinement with the pivots I4 and 23, the resiliency of the bracket 24 acts to complete the nal movements of the parts to the positions thereof shown in solid lines (Fig. 3). This resiliency may be sufficient to hold the table open or extended, but I prefer to use the button 21 to engage the bail 24 and assist Vthe resiliency thereof in holding the parts firmly and securely in their open positions. In the open positions of the table, the arms 35 press .against the sides of the top braces Il and thereby directly cooperate with the remaining structure to provide needed rigidity and to prevent oscillation of the table.

The table shown in Fig. il embodies the same structural elements as the table already described, with the exception that a single leg 3B constitutes the front leg supporting structure. Said leg 35' has its upper end extending between iianges V3I of a single bracket 32 located approximately midway betweenthe side edges of the table. The single leg 3S is pivotally engagedby the cross-connection 38 connecting the forward ends of the resilient arms 35 of the leg bracing structure. When this table is opened, the resilient arms 35 apply pressure against the top braces I'I in the manner already described.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention and each form thereof attains all of its intended objects and purposes emciently and economically. The invention may be varied in other specic particulars than those mentioned without departure from the nature and principle thereof.

I claim:

1. YIn an ironing table having a table top, and a transverse sheet metal bracket attached to the rear underside of said top and having downwardly diverging ears integral with its ends and provided with substantially vertical lower end portions; a pair of rear legs pivcted to said ears above said lower end portions for swinging movements from positions along the underside of said table top to downwardly extended positions, front leg structure pivotally connected with the table top for supporting the iront cf the table. too

braces pivotally connected with said rear legs and converging forwardly therefrom and arranged to support the forward portion of said top, and duplicate reversible and interchangeable braces each having its two end portions bent in opposite directions from the plane thereof and each having its upper end portion pivoted to the vertical lower end portion of one of said ears below the pivot of the adjacent rear leg and its lower end portion pivotally connected with the opposite rear leg and top brace.

2. In an ironing table having a table top, and a thin sheet metal transverse bracket attached to the rear underside* of said top and having downwardly extended ears integral with its ends; downwardly and inwardly extended flanges extending continuously along the side edges of said ears and along the side edges of adjacent end portions of said bracket and substantially preventing further bending of said ears, a pair of rear legs pivoted to the outer sides of said ears.

converging top braces extending forwardly from said legs, movable means attached to the table top for holding said top braces in position to brace said top, front leg structure extending between said braces and having its upper end pivoted to said top, a resilient bail pivotally connected with said front leg structure and with said rear legs and extending along and resiliently pressing against the outer sides of said top braces, duplicate reversible and interchangeable braces each having its two end portions bent oppositely from the plane thereof, devices pivotally connecting the upper end portion of each of said braces with one of said ears between said flanges and holding said end portions spaced inwardly beyond said anges for swinging movements, and means pivotally connecting said top braces and the lower end portions of said last named braces with said rear legs.

LANDON C. WATLING. 

